Facts
- Beaufort County hired Ceres Environmental Services as the prime contractor for post-Hurricane Matthew cleanup, and Ceres subcontracted Spencer A. Olson Trucking, which in turn subcontracted DEH Disaster Recovery, LLC [lines="42-61"].
- A trailer from DEH separated from its tow truck and collided with the vehicle of Susan Shaffer, resulting in her death [lines="64-66"].
- Mark Shaffer, Susan's husband, sued several parties, ultimately leaving direct negligence claims against Beaufort and Ceres after settling with DEH and Olson [lines="70-74"].
- The circuit court granted summary judgment in favor of Beaufort and Ceres, leading to Shaffer's appeal regarding the direct negligence claims [lines="75-76"].
- Beaufort and Ceres also appealed other orders granting summary judgment in favor of Olson and DEH regarding indemnification claims [lines="78-79"].
Issues
- Did the circuit court err in granting summary judgment on Shaffer's claims of direct negligence against Beaufort and Ceres? [lines="75-76"]
- Were Beaufort and Ceres entitled to contractual indemnification against Olson for the claims stemming from Shaffer’s lawsuit? [lines="152-154"]
Holdings
- The court reversed the summary judgment on Shaffer's direct negligence claims against Beaufort and Ceres, citing the inconsistency with the ruling in Ruh, establishing that employers can be directly liable for negligent hiring [lines="275-276"].
- The court reversed the summary judgment on the contractual indemnity claim against Olson, noting Beaufort and Ceres had a valid claim for indemnification under the Master Subcontract [lines="200-201"].
OPINION
Case Information
*1 In the United States Court of Federal Claims
OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS No. 23-1530V KRISTA DAVIDSON, Chief Special Master Corcoran
Petitioner, v. Filed: November 7, 2024 SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES,
Respondent. Maximillian J. Muller, Muller Brazil, LLP, Dresher, PA, for Petitioner.
Meghan Murphy, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Respondent.
DECISION ON DAMAGES
[1] On September 5, 2023, Krista Davidson filed a petition for compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, 42 U.S.C. §300aa-10, et seq. [2] (the “Vaccine Act”). Petitioner alleges that she suffered a shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (“SIRVA”) as the result of an influenza (“flu”) vaccine received on October 22, 2022. Petition at 1. The case was assigned to the Special Processing Unit of the Office of Special Masters.
On June 27, 2024, a Ruling on Entitlement was issued, finding Petitioner entitled to compensation for a SIRVA. On November 7, 2024, Respondent filed a Proffer on award of compensation (“Proffer”). Respondent represented that Petitioner agrees with the proffered award. Id. at 2. Based on the record as a whole, I find that Petitioner is entitled to an award as stated in the Proffer.
*2 Pursuant to the terms stated in the Proffer, I award the following compensation: A lump sum of $53,515.50 (representing $52,500.00 for pain and suffering, and $1,015.50 for past unreimbursable expenses) in the form of a check payable to Petitioner. Proffer at 2. This amount represents compensation for all damages that would be available under Section 15(a). Id.
The Clerk of Court is directed to enter judgment in accordance with this decision. IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/Brian H. Corcoran Brian H. Corcoran Chief Special Master *3 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF FEDERAL CLAIMS OFFICE OF SPECIAL MASTERS ___________________________________
) KRISTA DAVIDSON, )
) Petitioner, ) No. 23-1530V (ECF)
) Chief Special Master Brian H. Corcoran v. ) ) SECRETARY OF HEALTH )
AND HUMAN SERVICES, )
) Respondent. )
___________________________________ )
RESPONDENT’S PROFFER ON AWARD OF COMPENSATION On September 5, 2023, Krista Davidson (“petitioner”) filed a petition for compensation under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-1 to -34 (“Vaccine Act” or “Act”), alleging that she suffered a Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration (“SIRVA”), as defined in the Vaccine Injury Table, following administration of an influenza vaccination that she received on October 22, 2022. Petition at 1. On June 21, 2024, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (“respondent”) filed a Rule 4(c) Report recommending that petitioner be found entitled to compensation. ECF No. 16. On June 27, 2024, the Chief Special Master issued a Ruling on Entitlement finding petitioner entitled to compensation. ECF No. 18.
I. Items of Compensation
A. Pain and Suffering
Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded $52,500.00 in pain and suffering.
See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a)(4). Petitioner agrees.
B. Past Unreimbursable Expenses
Evidence supplied by petitioner documents that she incurred past unreimbursable expenses related to her vaccine-related injury. Respondent proffers that petitioner should be awarded past unreimbursable expenses in the amount of $1,015.50. See 42 U.S.C. § 300aa- 15(a)(1)(B). Petitioner agrees.
These amounts represent all elements of compensation to which petitioner is entitled under 42 U.S.C. § 300aa-15(a). Petitioner agrees.
II. Form of the Award
Petitioner is a competent adult. Evidence of guardianship is not required in this case. Respondent recommends that the compensation provided to petitioner should be made through a lump sum payment as described below and requests that the Chief Special Master’s decision and the Court’s judgment award the following: a lump sum payment of $53,515.50, in the form of a check payable to petitioner.
III. Summary of Recommended Payments Following Judgment Lump sum payable to petitioner, Krista Davidson: $53,515.50 *5 Respectfully submitted, BRIAN M. BOYNTON Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General C. SALVATORE D’ALESSIO Director Torts Branch, Civil Division HEATHER L. PEARLMAN Deputy Director Torts Branch, Civil Division VORIS E. JOHNSON, JR. Assistant Director Torts Branch, Civil Division /s/ Rachelle P. Bishop for MEGHAN R. MURPHY Trial Attorney Torts Branch, Civil Division U.S. Department of Justice P.O. Box 146 Benjamin Franklin Station Washington, D.C. 20044-0146 (202) 616-4264 Meghan.R.Murphy@usdoj.gov DATED: November 7, 2024
[1] Because this Decision contains a reasoned explanation for the action taken in this case, it must be made publicly accessible and will be posted on the United States Court of Federal Claims' website, and/or at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/uscourts/national/cofc, in accordance with the E-Government Act of 2002. 44 U.S.C. § 3501 note (2018) (Federal Management and Promotion of Electronic Government Services). This means the Decision will be available to anyone with access to the internet. In accordance with Vaccine Rule 18(b), Petitioner has 14 days to identify and move to redact medical or other information, the disclosure of which would constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. If, upon review, I agree that the identified material fits within this definition, I will redact such material from public access.
[2] National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99-660, 100 Stat. 3755. Hereinafter, for ease of citation, all section references to the Vaccine Act will be to the pertinent subparagraph of 42 U.S.C. § 300aa (2018).
[3] Pursuant to Vaccine Rule 11(a), entry of judgment can be expedited by the parties’ joint filing of notice renouncing the right to seek review.
[1] Should petitioner die prior to entry of judgment, the parties reserve the right to move the Court for appropriate relief. In particular, respondent would oppose any award for future, unreimbursed expenses, future lost earnings and future pain and suffering.